Automatic journal box oiler



April 2, 1968 s. c. PERRY AUTOMATIC JOURNAL BOX OILER Filed June 29, 1965 United States Patent 3,375,902 AUTOMATIC JOURNAL BOX OILER Stephen C. Perry, 242 Nobles Laue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15210 Filed June 29, 1965, Ser. No. 468,073 4 Claims. (Cl. 184-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic journal box oiler for squirting oil into an open journal box of a railroad car moving along a track comprising an oil delivery line mounted beside a track aimed at a point in the path of journal boxes of a railroad car passing on the track, a valve in the oil delivery line for controlling squirting of oil from the oil delivery line,

means for delivering oil under pressure to the oil delivery line and means controlled by the passing railroad car including a switch actuated by a wheel of the car for opening the valve to squirt oil into an open journal box of the passing railroad car. The last mentioned means may include mechanism actuated by passing of a journal box with the lid open for opening the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box. Such mechanism may include a light source directing a beam of light .at a point in the path of the end faces of the axles of the passing railroad car as the railroad car moves along the track, a receiver positioned to be in the path of the beam of light when reflected off. of the end face of an axle of the moving railroad car when the journal box lid normally covering such axle end is open and means actuated by impingement of the reflected beam of light upon the receiver for opening the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box.

This invention relates to an automatic journal box oiler for squirting oil into journal boxes of railroad cars when particular or selected journals require lubrication.

While my automatic journal box oiler is of general application I have found it to be of especial utility in a railroad switching yard having a hump with a track extending over the hump used for moving railroad cars by gravity onto selected tracks in making up trains, particularly freight trains. For purposes of explanation and illustration I shall describe the invention as embodied in an automatic journal box oiler used in a railroad switching yard.

In a railroad switching yard incoming freight trains are broken up and the cars formed into new trains formovement to different destinations. The incoming train is pushed over a hump. At or near the top of the hump each car or group of cars is uncoupled from the car following it and as the car or group of cars passes over the top of the bump it moves forward by gravity down the back side of the hump. By suitable control of switches the car or group of cars is delivered onto a particular track where it is coupled to other cars to make up a new train.

The journals of the cars are inspected in the switching yard. This is normally done when the incoming train is standing still just before it is pushed over the hump. Inspectors walk along both sides of the train and open the journal boxes and inspect the journals to determine whether or not each journal is in need of lubrication. When my automatic journal box oiler is to be employed the inspectors leave open the journal box lids of all journal boxes requiring lubrication. They close the lids of all journal boxes not requiring lubrication. As each car moves over the hump oil is automatically squirted into each open journal box, the automatic equipment for causing the squirting of oil being controlled by the car itself and preferably through the fact that the lids of the journal boxes requiring lubrication are open. I take advantage of 'last mentioned means preferably this fact to activate mechanism causing squirting of oil into the open journal boxes as the cars are being pushed along the track approaching or on the upgrade of the hump.

It is standard operating procedure for a train being pushed over the hump to be pushed at predetermined speed. This speed is generally standardized at a speed to push four freight cars over the hump per minute. The speed of movement of the cars until they pass over the top of the hump and move forward by gravity approximates two and one half miles per hour. I provide control means for controlling the squirting of oil into the open journal boxes controlled by a portion of the car with time control means whose operation is related to the predetermined speed of movement of the cars along the track insuring squirting of oil into the open journal boxes when they are respectively positioned to receive oil from the oil squirting or delivery means.

My automatic journal box oiler may be controlled in various ways. The present preferred way of effecting the control is by the employment of a light source directing a beam of light at a point in the path of the end faces of the axles of the passing railroad car together with a receiver positioned to be in the path of the beam of light when reflected off of the end face of an axle of the moving railroad car when the journal box lid normally covering such axle end is open and means actuated by impingement of the reflected beam of light upon the re ceiver for opening the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box.

I provide an automatic journal box oiler for squirting'oil into an open journal box of a railroad car moving along a track comprising an oil delivery line mounted beside a track aimed at a point in the path of journal boxes of a railroad car passing on the track, a valve in the oil delivery line for controlling squirting of oil from the '1 delivery line, means for delivering oil under pressure to the oil delivery line and means controlled by the passing railroad car for opening the valve to squirt oil into an open journal box of the passing railroad car. The include mechanism actu ated by passing of a journal box with the lid open for opening the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box. Such mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of my invention includes a light source directing a beam of. light at a point in the path of the end faces of the axles of the passing railroad car as the railroad car moves box lid normally covering such axle end is open and means actuated by an impingement of the reflected beam of light upon the receiver for opening the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box. Thus I find it convenient and advantageous to usethe vertical end faces of the axles in the journal boxes requiring lubricant as the control means to cause squirting of lubricant into those journal boxes. When a journal box lid is open the light beam is reflected off of the end of the axle to the receiver and actuates the squirting mechanism. When however a journal box lid is closed the light beam is not reflected back to the receiver but rather is reflected off at an angle or largely absorbed by the closed journal box lid and does not result in squirting oil at the closed journal box.

The control means are normally positioned relatively to the squirting means or nozzle so that as a car moves along the track it passes the control means first and then the proper time for the oil to enter the open journal box.

A timer limits the time during which the oil control valve is open so that the oil is squirted only when the open journal box is opposite the nozzle. In optimum operation squirting begins as soon as the forward edge of the journal box opening has passe-d the nozzle and ends just before the trailing edge of the journal box opening reaches the nozzle.

Suitable circuitry is employed for the control, which circuitry may take many forms. The details of the circuitry do not constitute a limitation upon my invention as suitable circuitry for performing the functions can be designed by any competent electronics engineer. I find it desirable to provide a holding circuit which is set up by the control means and a switch operated by the railroad car closing the holding circuit as a journal box to be lubricated approaches the nozzle, with a time control to insure opening of the oil valve at the proper time and an additional time control to limit the time during which the oil valve is open.

I also preferably provide a main switch which is normally open but which is closed to activate the circuitry of the automatic journal box oiler when the conductor signals the engineer to push the train over the hump. I also preferably provide heating means, such, for example, as an electric heating element with a thermostatic control, for heating the control means in cold weather.

Other details, objects and advantage of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a journal box of a railroad car with the lid open, the nozzle through which oil is squirted into the open journal box and a portion of the control means for causing the oil to be squirted, it being understood that the control means and the nozzle are spaced apart longitudinally of the track although both are seen in the figure;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of my automatic journal box oiler; and

FIGURE 3 is a circuitry diagram of my automatic journal box oiler.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 2 a railroad track 2 which passes over a hump in a railroad switching yard. The movement of cars along the track 2 is from right to left viewing FIGURE 2, the top of the hump being in the region of the left hand edge of the figure. At each side of the track is a nozzle 3. The nozzles are shown diagrammati cally in FIGURE 2 and one of the nozzles is shown in FIGURE 1. At each side of the track the nozzle 3 which constitutes the terminus of the oil delivery line at that side is aimed at a point in the path of journal boxes of a railroad car passing on the track 2. One of the journal boxes is indicated at 4 in FIGURE 1, the journal box lid 5 being shown in open position. As above explained, when the train is standing still before it is pushed over the hump inspectors open all the journal boxes and inspect the journals and leave open those journal boxes requiring lubrication. One such journal box is shown in FIG- URE 1.

An oil storage tank is shown at 6 in FIGURE 2. Oil from the tank 6 passes to a pump 7 which pumps the oil through a recirculating line 8 including a pressure relief valve 9. Both of the nozzles 3 are connected with the line 8 through solenoid controlled valves 10. When the valves are closed the oil simply recirculates through the line 8. The valve 9 insures the maintenance of a predetermined oil pressure in the line. When either of valves 10 is open oil under pressure from the line 8 is delivered through the corresponding nozzle 3.

There are separate controls for the solenoid operated valves 10. The circuitry diagram of FIGURE 3 shows one form of control for the solenoid 10a of one of the A. valves 10 and it will be understood that similar control means are provided for the other solenoid valve.

FIGURE 2 shows diagrammatically a control device 11 at each side of the track. One such control device will now be described, it being understood that the control devices at opposite sides of the track are duplicates of each other. Referring to FIGURE 1, I provide a transmitter including a light source -12 for delivering a beam of light through a prism or lens 13, the light so delivered preferably being a pulsating or so-called modulated light by reason of the provision of a motor driven disc 14 which consists of a large number of black and transparent slots which interrupt the light when the disc rotates. The motor driving the disc may operate at 3,000 rpm. which results in pulses of light being produced at a frequency of 10,000 cycles per second.

The beam of pulsating or modulated light is indicated by reference numeral 15 in FIGURE 1. It is directed at a point in the path of the end faces of the axles of the passing railroad cars as the railroad cars move along the track 2. As shown in FIGURE 1, the end face of each axle is vertical and is capable of acting as a refiector. When the journal box lid is open as shown in FIG- URE 1 the light beam 15 is reflected off of the end face of the axle and passes through a lens or prism 16 to a receiver 17. The receiver 17 may include a photo transistor which detects the pulsating light beam and delivers a signal when the pulsating light beam is detected. Thus the receiver is activated when a journal box with an open lid passes the control device 11 at the corresponding side of the track.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is indicated at 18 a power source which may for example be a ll5-volt alternating current line. A main switch '19 for closing the circuit is normally open as shown in FIGURE 3 but is adapted to be closed by actuation of a signal circuit 20 by the conductor. The signal circuit 20 signals the engineer to push the train over the hump and upon receipt of that signal the engineer pushes the train over the hump at predetermined speed.

Closing of the switch 19 activates the transmitter including the light source 12 and the motor driving the disc 14. When the pulsating light beam 15 is reflected to the receiver 17 a relay 21 is closed which sets up a circuit 22. The circuit 22 includes a switch 23 which is open until the wheel carried by an axle whose journal is to be lubricated closes the switch 23. The switch 23 may be a proximity switch and may be positioned along the track as shown in FIGURE 2. Its closing closes the circuit 22 and activates a timer 24. The timer 24 after a predetermined adjustable time interval activates a second timer 25. Activation of the timer 25 opens the solenoid valve 10a resulting in squirting of oil through the nozzle 3 into the open journal box. The timer 25 controls the length of time during which the solenoid valve 10a remains open. At the end of that time interval the solenoid valve 10a closes and the relay 21, the switch 23 and the timers 24 and 25 open.

I preferably provide a heater 26 with a thermostatic control 27 which is preferably disposed in a casing containing the electronic control equipment to insure against freezing of such equipment in cold weather and to maintain it at proper operating temperature.

Thus I provide for automatic lubrication of journal boxes requiring lubrication through control effected by opening of the lids of the journal boxes requiring lubrication. The control means described insure that a squirt of oil will be delivered through one of the nozzles to each open journal box while the journal box opening is opposite the nozzle. Any drip from the nozzles when the solenoid operated valves are closed is caught by splash pans 28 shown in FIGURE 2.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly under stood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic journal box oiler for squirting oil into an open journal box of a railroad car moving along a track at predetermined speed comprising an oil delivery line mounted beside a track and including oil discharge means aimed at a first point in the path of movement of journal boxes of a railroad car passing on the track, a valve in the oil delivery line for controlling squirting of oil from the oil discharge means, means for delivering oil under pressure to the oil delivery line, a light source directing a beam of light at a second point in the path of movement of the end faces of the axles of the passing railroad car as the railroad car moves along the track, the second point being spaced from the first point in the direction opposite the direction of movement of the railroad car along the track, a receiver positioned to be in the path of the beam of light when reflected off of the end face of an axle of the moving railroad car when the journal box lid normally covering such axle end is open, valve control means for opening said valve, to squirt oil into the open journal box, said valve control means including a first means operated in response to impingement of a beam of light from said light source reflected from the exposed end face of a car wheel axle, and a second means including a switch positioned to be actuated by the wheels of a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means, and time control means actuated in response to the sequential actuation of said first and second means of said valve control means in the recited order, the operation of said time control means being related to the predetermined speed of movement of the railroad car along the track to insure opening of the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box when the open journal box is positioned to receive oil from the oil delivery line.

2. In a railroad switching yard having a bump with a track extending over the hump, an automatic journal box oiler for squirting oil into an open journal box of a rail road car while the railroad car is being pushed along the track at predetermined speed approaching or on the up grade of the hump comprising an oil delivery line mounted beside the track at a location approaching or on the up grade of the hump and having an oil discharge means aimed at a point in the path of journal boxes of a railroad car being pushed along the track at predetermined speed, a valve in the oil delivery line for controlling squirting of oil from the oil discharge means, means for delivering oil under pressure to the oil delivery line, valve control means for opening said valve to squirt oil from said oil discharge means into an open journal box on a car moving along said track towards said oil discharge means, said valve control means including first and second means mounted beside the track on the approach side of said oil discharge means as related to car movement along the track, said first and second means of the valve control means being spaced along the track to be actuated in a predetermined sequence in response to a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means, said first means of the valve control means including switch means and photocell means operative in response to movement of an open journal box on the side of a car facing the oil delivery means to a point within a predetermined distance of said oil delivery means to actuate said switch means, and said second means of the valve control means including a track switch positioned to be actuated by a car wheel and being placed along the track in spaced relation to the oil delivery means on the approach side thereof a distance less than said predetermined distance whereby the track switch is actuated by a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means after the photocellactuated switch has been actuated by said car and time control means actuated in response to the sequential operation of the switches of said first and second means of the valve control means, the operation of the time control means being related to the predetermined speed of move ment of the railroad car along the track to insure opening of the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box when the open journal box is positioned to receive oil from the oil delivery line.

3. In a railroad switching yard having a hump with a track extending over the hump, an automatic journal box oiler for squirting oil into an open journal box of a railroad car while the railroad car is being pushed along the track at predetermined speed approaching or on the up grade of the hump comprising an oil delivery line mounted beside the track and including oil discharge means disposed at a location approaching or on the up grade of the hump aimed at a first point in the path of journal boxes of a railroad car being pushed along the track at predetermined speed, a valve in the oil delivery line for controlling squirting of oil from the oil discharge means, means for delivering oil under pressure to the oil delivery line, a light source directing a beam of light at a second point in the path of the end faces of the axles of the moving railroad car as the railroad car moves along the track, the second point being spaced from the first point in the direction opposite the direction of movement of the railroad car along the track, a receiver positioned to be in the path of the beam of light when reflected off of the end face of an axle of the moving railroad car when the journal box lid normally covering such axle end is open, valve control means including a first switch means actu' ated in response to the impingement of the reflected beam of light upon the receiver and a track switch means actuated by a wheel of a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means, said first and second means being arranged to be sequentially actuated by a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means, the second switch means being actuated after the first switch means is actuated and time control means actuated in response to the sequential operation of said switches in the order recited, the operation of the time control means being related to the predetermined speed of movement of the railroad car along the track to insure opening of the valve to squirt oil into the open journal box when the open journal box is positioned to receive oil from the oil delivery line.

4. An apparatus for automatically squirting oil into journal boxes for the wheel axles on a railroad car while moving along a track comprising an oil delivery line disposed beside a track and including oil discharge means positioned to squirt a stream of oil aimed at a point in the path of movement of the journal boxes of a car moving along the track, a normally closed solenoid operated valve in said oil delivery line for controlling the discharge of oil therefrom, means for delivering oil under pressure to said oil delivery line and valve control means actuated in response to a car moving along the track and having an open journal box, for opening said valve, said valve control means including a light source located beside the track in position to direct a beam of light across the path of movement of the ends of car wheel axles at a point in said path on the approach side of said oil discharge means, a receiver for a beam of light reflected from an end of a car wheel axle exposed to said first-mentioned light beam by an open cover on the journal box associated with said car wheel axle, switch means operable in response to the impingement of a reflected beam of light from an exposed car wheel axle, and a car wheel actuated switch disposed alongside said track at a point between said second-mentioned point and said oil discharge means, electric circuit means for energizing the solenoid valve and including said first and second switches arranged therein to be sequentially operated in response to a car moving along the track towards said oil discharge means, said electric circuit means including a normally open energizing circuit for said solenoid valve and a timer relay arranged to close said normally energizing circuit when energized, said timer relay being open solenoid '7 energized in response to the operation of said second switch after said first switch has operated, the operation of said time control means being related to the speed of movement of the car along the track whereby to open the solenoid valve a predetermined time after the car Wheel switch is closed and the open journal box is in alignment with the oil discharge means.

2,818,508 12/1957 Johanson et al. 25083.3 X

8 2,996,885 9/1959 Orthuber et a1. 246169 X 2,961,990 11/1960 Wruck 1182 3,155,191 11/1964 Nelson 184-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,213 3/ 1946 Australia. 956,707 4/1964 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner. 

